Saturday, 14 July 2012

"The root meanings of zakah connect it to the idea of (1)
purifying, cleansing oneself of the taints of avarice, thus freeing oneself
from being trapped (or owned) by the things one owns. And (2) growing,
prospering: zakah lifts a burden from the soul, so that it can grow
in goodness. In the same way as a stone can obstruct a plant’s growth, and
removing it allows the plant to benefit from light; so also not
recognising the duty of zakah can obstruct one’s wealth from
bringing good to oneself and one’s community."- Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi (Oxford)

Have
you ever wondered why people are trapped and there are so many barriers
and obstructions to growth, prosperity and goodness? If so sign up for the most comprehensive seminar in the UK on Zakat and Sadaqah coming up this Sunday, InshaAllah.

Zakat - The 3rd Pillar of IslamThe Inner and The Outer Dimensions of Zakat By Shaykh Dr Mohammed Akram Nadwi

"I have been to two of the CISS courses and
can say with certainty that they have been inspiring to the highest
degree. Shaikh Akram's style of teaching ensures that you are connected
from the start, not only in terms of the relevance of the knowledge he
is sharing, but also through the openness of the sessions. He not only
shares the important knowledge on the topic but also encourages the
questioning of all that knowledge in order to make it relevant for us in
today's world. These courses have helped me to reinvigorate and renew
my passion for my faith and have encouraged me to continuously seek and
apply the vast knowledge there is in Islam."- Rimla Akhtar, Chairperson, Muslim Women's Sport Foundation, London

"Alhamdullilah I had a fascinating day
learning Usul-ul-Hadith from Shaykh Nadwi, today in Cambridge. Such a
learned man and so humble, Subhanallah"- Muhammad Ibrahim Ali, St Ives, Cambridgeshire

"Of all the scholars I have had the
opportunity to study with, I have found Shaikh Akram Nadwi to be the
closest, in knowledge, manners and teaching, to how I would imagine
some of the great Hadith scholars of the past would have been. He has a
vast knowledge of Qur'an, Hadith and Fiqh, a down-to-earth, humble,
approachable style, and great teaching ability. His classes are not just
beneficial from a learning perspective, but also to marvel at the
awe-inspiring wealth of knowledge of our scholars masha Allah. His 57
volume work going through the biographies of some 8,500 women scholars
of Hadith is a monumental endeavour. The mere fact of its existence can
be a major talking point in discussion with Muslims and non-Muslims,
and is almost a stand-alone proof of Islam's unparalleled wealth of
female scholarship." - Dr Omar Mahroo, Cambridge/London

Friday, 13 July 2012

All the five pillars of Islam are very important and indeed that is why
they are called the "pillars". However, is there an order of importance
for these pillars? For example, without the first pillar of the shahadah, no other pillar can exist. Similarly, the second pillar of salah (the five daily prayers) comes next in importance for the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said that the difference between eeman (belief) and kufr (disbelief) is the salah. Also, Allah (SWT) refers to the salah as eeman in the Qur'an (2:143). After
the shahadah and the salah comes the third pillar of Islam which is
neither the fast of Ramadhan nor Hajj to the House of Allah but Zakat.
In fact, Zakat is frequently mentioned along with Salah in the Qur'an.

We all know the importance of Ramadhan - fasting this month has been prescribed to attain Taqwa (fear and conciousness of Allah), the Qur'an was revealed in this month; the shayateen are chained; laylat-ul-qadr
(the night of decree) which is better than a thousand months comes in
this month; it is the month of mercy and forgiveness; it is the month of
extended prayer; it is the month of patience and many more virtues. But the pillar of Zakat comes before the fast of Ramadhan.
Why is this so? This order is not just random or incidental. At a
glance, it may appear that it is the fast of Ramadan which is more
important than the seemingly easier task of giving a monetary payment as
Zakat. Then, although there may not be as many virtues mentioned about
Zakat, there must be very good reasons why Zakat comes before Fasting.

These reasons can be discovered through understanding the inner dimensions of Zakat.
Zakat is no ordinary pillar of Islam. Zakat directly relates to the
Love of Allah (SWT), the Divine Decree and gratitude to Allah (SWT)
which are from the most fundamental aspects of the universal Islam
conveyed by all the Prophets and Messengers ('Ihya). So if someone is excited about Ramadhan but not excited about Zakat, then he or she has not properly understood Islam.
It is not surprising why the Prophet (PBUH) asked every Muslim both
male and female to give charity, and if they cannot find anything to
give, to work with their hands to benefit themselves and give in charity
(Bukhari).

This is the last opportunity to register for the important Zakat seminar coming up this Sunday.
The seminar is delivered by one of the foremost scholars and thinkers
of the western world today: Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi of the Oxford
Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University.The seminar will deal
with the practical aspects as well as the important deeper inner
dimensions of Zakat (which many are unfortunately unaware of) that make
Zakat a spiritual goldmine (for self purification) and a miracle of
Islam.

Zakat - The 3rd Pillar of IslamThe Inner and The Outer Dimensions of Zakat

"Both the Usul-ul-Hadith and Usul-ul-Fiqh
courses I have attended so far have been absolutely wonderful. Shaykh
Akram Nadwi's scholarship and spiritual knowledge is exactly what is
required to help us understand and make sense of so many diverging
schools of opinion and groups and is backed up by his immense knowledge
of the sources of our Deen. His amazing knowledge is reflective of the
numerous esteemed teachers that he has been a student of and his piety
is quite apparent as soon as you meet and talk to him. I would like to
thank both the Shaykh and the organisers who have given us the
opportunity to receive the introductions to these disciplines which
underpin the fundamentals of our Deen. We should be thankful to Allah
that we have had the opportunity to gain a touch of sacred knowledge
from the highly qualified Shaykh Akram Nadwi, who himself has received
his knowledge in the traditional manner as part of unbroken chains of
Shuyukh and their students, going all the way back to non other than our
beloved Rasulullah, salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam." - Abdul Hadi, Cambridge "Alhamdulillah I was fortunate enough to attend the first of the
Cambridge Islamic Sciences Seminars which attracted many from within
Cambridge and without, both young and old. Sheikh Akram Nadwi is a true
gem within the Muslim community here in the UK; with such a wealth of
knowledge, he kept us engaged and gave us a sound introduction into the
Sciences of Hadith. I came away from the course reignited in my
pursuit for knowledge. I look forward to attending most, if not all,
future courses throughout the year inshaAllah and would highly
recommend it to anyone wishing to get acquainted with the Islamic
sciences. " - Maria Alfaradhi, PhD Student, Cambridge University

"Shaykh Akram worked through the
essentials of the course with a burning zeal to explain the
multi-dimensional nature of the subject. The methodological approach
was incisive and analytical. He made it patently clear that ‘teaching’
and ‘learning’ is a serious matter which carries a sense of
responsibility. The Shaykh demonstrated with numerous examples, and the
lively and open-ended question and answer session, that accuracy and
truth in matters of faith is a forensic process that can never be
compromised. One is left with a sincere desire to pursue knowledge that
is not only sound but consistent with the approach of our Pious
Predecessors. MEOC is to be congratulated for organising this seminar
and the future programmes should be of interest to all those eager to
benefit from this outstanding Islamic Scholar." - Sulaiman Kazi, Solicitor, Batley, West Yorkshire

Thursday, 12 July 2012

Zakat
is the third pillar of Islam coming even before the Fast of Ramadhan
and Hajj to the House of Allah. As such, it's importance cannot be
overstated. Zakat can also be the most complicated pillar of Islam,
especially in modern times where wealth, investments and finance can
take a variety of new forms as can the recipients. For us, living in
Britain, there is the additional dimension of living as a minority. Just
a few of the questions we may have include:

How should we allocate Zakat? Who should have priority?

Can Zakat be given to educational institutions?

Can Zakat be sent to other countries or must it be spent locally?

How should we organise Zakat distribution within Muslim communities in the UK?

How should Zakat be calculated on investments such as stocks, pension schemes, properties etc.?

Is there Zakat on any personal effects? If so, on what and how is it calculated?

How is the nisab and the 'time period' determined for perpetual income/savings?

Should each and every income be recorded to determine Zakat or is there an easier way?

Is it better to give Zakat to individuals or to organisations?

How is Zakat calculated on trade and business?

Is there Zakat on jewellery? If so, how is it calculated?

No doubt, there are many more questions. The answers for these questions lie in understanding the purpose and the principles of Zakat. It is this understanding that unravels the complexities of Zakat.
MEOC is pleased to present the forthcoming important seminar on Zakat in association with the National Zakat Foundation (NZF). This seminar is delivered by one of the foremost scholars and thinkers of the western world today: Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University.The
seminar will address the important practical principles as well as the
inner dimension of Zakat, which together make Zakat a spiritual goldmine
(for self purification - tazkiyyah) and a miracle of Islam.

Testimonials"Shaykh
Mohammad Akram Nadwi is a great asset to the Muslims in the UK and his
57 volume work on al-Muhaddithaat (The Women Scholars of Islam) is no
doubt going to be a lasting legacy of this great man. I had the
blessed opportunity of spending a day with him recently; he is one of
those few individuals who in a short period of time can change your
entire thinking. May Allah bless the brothers and sisters in Cambridge
and those in Oxford who organise and help the Shaykh in his works."- Nasar Ishfaq, Manchester

"The sincerity
and piety of sheikh Akram Nadawi was a great source of inspiration for
me. His great knowledge was beautifully expressed masha' Allah in a very
simple way that touches everyone in the audience regardless of their
marital status. I came along with a friend who is a new Muslim not
intending to attend all sessions, but we ended up there all day. The
emphasis on the importance of the family, how simple are Islamic rules,
the distinction between our cultural heritage and the true message of
Islam and his openness to answer all audience questions, in my opinion
were the reasons behind the great success of the session yesterday. It
was a great honour for me to attend yesterday's session and I thank
Allah for giving me the unique chance to attend a session by a great a
scholar to guide me through out my marriage-life." - Mona ElQazzaz, PhD Student, Cambridge University

"I want to thank your organisation for
arranging these series of lectures by Dr Nadwi. I have attended two of
these lectures and have found them immensely enlightening. Dr Nadwi is a
rare scholar of our times and although he is knowledgeable enough to
talk at length on issues of philosophy, literacy or poetry, he is always
keen to emphasise the practical implications of his teachings - that
Islam in essence is a religion to be practiced with real actions and not
confined to theory written in textbooks. MEOC has done an excellent job
in the way they have taken care of all the details required of
organising such events. I pray that Allah rewards all those involved in
all aspects of these courses." - Dr Atiqul Baree, Portsmouth

More Testimonials:http://courses.meoc.org.uk/p/testimonials.htmlMEOC is pleased to present this important seminar on Zakat in association with the National Zakat Foundation (NZF). Launched in 2011,
NZF is a groundbreaking initiative which aims to utilise Zakat funds and
voluntary donations collected in the UK for the benefit of local,
deserving recipients. This group includes some of the most vulnerable
members of our community, including widows, orphans, refugees, the aged
as well as the homeless. The work of NZF covers five core areas which
together form an end-to-end service for the Muslim community in the UK
with respect to Zakat: Awareness, Education, Calculation, Collection and
Distribution. For more information, please visit www.nzf.org.uk. NZF is an initiative of Mercy Mission UK, charity number 1122922.

Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Zakat is often described as a "tax" or "levy" by Muslims. But Zakat is neither a tax nor a levy. Rather, it is an investment for the present and for the future. Zakat has the meaning of purification and growth. It is part of worship to Allah (SWT).

"Whatever you lend out in usury to gain value through other people’s wealth will not increase in Allah’s eyes, but whatever you give in zakat, in your desire for Allah’s approval, will earn multiple rewards"[Qur'an 30:39]
"...So recite what is easy from it and establish prayer and give zakah and loan Allah a goodly loan. And whatever good you put forward for yourselves - you will find it with Allah . It is better and greater in reward. And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful" [Qur'an 73:20]

Zakat is about sending things forward or investing for the future. It is this practice that removes our attachment to the world (especially wealth), enabling us to purify our souls and grow our account for the Hereafter. Zakat is training for purification and growth for our entire life. It is this important dimension of Zakat that makes it a pillar of Islam, coming even before the fast of Ramadhan and the Hajj.

MEOC is pleased to present the forthcoming important seminar on Zakat in association with the National Zakat Foundation (NZF). This seminar is delivered by one of the foremost scholars and thinkers of the western world today:Shaykh Dr Mohammad Akram Nadwi of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University. No doubt, the seminar will address the outer dimensions or the practical aspects of Zakat. But the focus of the seminar would be the higher purposes or the inner dimensions of Zakat which, if really understood, make Zakat a spiritual goldmine (for self purification - tazkiyyah) and a miracle of Islam.

Zakat - The 3rd Pillar of IslamThe Inner and The Outer Dimensions of Zakat

"As a non Muslim (currently!) I have been delighted by the whole experience of the MEOC lectures and have found them so helpful in my studies and 'quest for the Truth'. I had been doing lots of reading and studying and had started to read the Qur'an and this lecture seemed to come at the perfect time.The whole experience has been well organised, welcoming and informative and the depth and breadth of knowledge of Shaykh Dr Mohammed Akran Nadwi is truly inspiring and motivating. Excellent course delivery with suitable breaks allowing for reflection and brief stretch of legs, plus useful and interactive question and answer sessions.The two lectures I have attended thus far have benefited me enormously and I look forward to more God willing." - Sarah Jarman, Bedford (Sarah is now a Muslim)

"Jazakumullah khair for the efforts of the MEOC for arranging these blessed gatherings of knowledge. The seminars I've attended so far have several elements that make them very special, starting from the choice of topics themselves which cater to the more profound needs of the people rather than addressing some superficial issues that seem to be more fashionable today. Even the content of the seminars and the manner of teaching by Shaikh Akram Nadwi are directly focussed towards developing a deeper understanding of these issues. In these seminars, one gets a glimpse of the years of learning that have gone into the brilliant scholarship of Shaikh Nadwi. Furthermore his knowledge seems to be blessed by an acute understanding of the needs of the Ummah. The seminar on the 'Legacy of Ibrahim (a.s.)' was exceptionally beautiful, wherein, the Shaikh in his own words confessed that he was attempting to transmit, not knowledge, but the state of his heart, to the others present. While the knowledge and the insight that one gains into the Qur'an, the Sunnah and the history of Muslims through these seminars is invaluable, I personally feel that these sessions are more than just one-day courses. I am inclined to call them gatherings of Remembrance of Allah, and we all know the blessings of such gatherings!"- Mohini Verma, PhD Student, Cambridge University

MEOC is pleased to present this important seminar on Zakat in association with the National Zakat Foundation (NZF). Launched in 2011, NZF is a groundbreaking initiative which aims to utilise Zakat funds and voluntary donations collected in the UK for the benefit of local, deserving recipients. This group includes some of the most vulnerable members of our community, including widows, orphans, refugees, the aged as well as the homeless. The work of NZF covers five core areas which together form an end-to-end service for the Muslim community in the UK with respect to Zakat: Awareness, Education, Calculation, Collection and Distribution. For more information, please visitwww.nzf.org.uk. NZF is an initiative of Mercy Mission UK, charity number 1122922.